Why is grooming important?

Grooming is not just about maintaining your pet’s physical appearance, it is about maintaining both your dog’s physical health as well as keeping them clean. Grooming is especially important for long-haired dogs and cats, which require more intense grooming sessions as compared to short-haired pets. It takes more time to brush their long fur and they need to get used to staying still and getting used to being at the groomers. That is not to say pets with shorter fur do not require grooming. Grooming is a great bonding time, the more regularly you do it, the more they’ll get used to it and it should become a soothing relaxing experience for you both.

Even if your pet doesn’t look particularly ruffled, grooming provides many health benefits for them which may not be obvious. Brushing your pet ventilates their coat, helping it grow healthy and strong and removes old and damaged hair. Grooming also ensures that your pet's skin can breathe and reduces the level of grease on their coat. Too much dirt can block pores and cause irritation and skin problems. Running a brush through their coat acts as a nice massage which promotes healthy blood circulation. Plus, it’s not even ideal to give them a regular bath. Regular bathing will cause their natural oil to fall out, and it will also damage their coat.

Any responsible and seasoned dog owner will know that brushing your dog benefits them greatly. It will also remove mats in their fur. Hair knotting up or pulling against their skin causes them discomfort and pain. Mats can also cause ulcers and abrasions and should be removed immediately. Brushing will bring out the natural oils in the fur and remove any dead hair, dirt, and dandruff leaving a happy healthy pet. Mats can also  get bad and form huge sores which can then get infected, and hidden underneath their fur, so if you aren’t closely checking your dog on a regular basis, you can miss it. Dogs can’t tell us where it hurts, so it is important to keep on top of grooming them as it gives you the opportunity to give them a basic health check up, especially between their toes where mud and grass can clump, which can cause a lot of discomfort. 

Uncut nails can lead to joint pain, as it means the pet may not be walking with pads in alignment and balance. This is quite a common problem in dogs. Trimmed nails will keep them from curling, and will stop germs from getting stuck in there and retain their bone structure.

Getting rid of the discharge in your dog’s ears is important in preventing any ear infections. As well as this, your groomer will be able to trim any of the lengthier parts of hair which could be causing further issues. Ear infections are one of the leading causes of dog deafness, so getting their ears checked regularly will help to maintain their hearing for many years to come. You need to do the same with their eyes as well. 

You can begin grooming a puppy or kitten when she is as young as three weeks old. Many people even begin acquainting their puppies with grooming before they go to their new homes so that by the time they are picked up by their owners, they are already used to it. If you wait too long to begin the grooming sessions, your pet may not be agreeable to it later on, especially when it comes to ear cleaning and nail clipping.

The most important part about regular grooming is that it affects pet’s mental health as well. A good looking, good smelling pet who is regularly vetted by the groomer helps you keep your mind at ease about the health of your companion. Grooming is known to affect a pet's mental state and behaviour in a positive way. 

Always remember to make grooming and handling a pleasant experience, praise your dog and reward with treats if necessary. Choose a time when you are both relaxed, perhaps after a walk when your dog is resting after their exercise. It is always best to groom your dog from an early age, as this is the time when they make associations and choose what they enjoy and what they don’t.